なぜやるか

「コンマで挟まれた肩書き」「ダッシュで区切られた補足説明」「the fact that〜」などの挿入・同格表現は、主語と動詞の間に入って文を長く見せます。この塊を { } で囲んで外すと、S + V の距離が縮まり、長い1文の意味が一気に取れるようになります。Part7のメール・記事では人物の役職や背景情報が挿入されることが多く、これを素早く処理できると読解スピードが格段に上がります。このLesson 8を終えると、挿入・同格を含む文を迷わず処理できるようになります。

やり方

挿入・同格の3パターン

1. コンマ同格（肩書き・補足）
   Ms. Carter, {the head of the marketing division,} announced…
   → Ms. Carter を補足説明 → { } で囲んで外せる

2. ダッシュ同格（強調・補足）
   The result — {an increase of thirty percent} — exceeded projections.
   → result の内容を補足 → { } で囲んで外せる

3. the fact that 同格節
   The board accepted the fact {that the merger had been delayed}.
   → fact の内容を同格節で説明 → { } で囲んで外せる

見分け方のポイント

外してみて文が成立する → 挿入・同格 → { } で囲う
外すと文が崩れる → 必須要素（関係詞節など） → [ ] で囲う

例文トレーニング

文1｜コンマ同格（役職・肩書き）

原文: Mr. Tanaka, {the chief operating officer of Brenton Industries,}
announced a major restructuring plan (at the press conference).

S = Mr. Tanaka
V = announced
O = a major restructuring plan
( ) = at the press conference
{ } = the chief operating officer of Brenton Industries ← Mr. Tanakaの同格

→ { } を外すと「Mr. Tanaka announced a major restructuring plan at the press conference.」が残る。

文2｜コンマ挿入（補足情報）

原文: The project, {initially scheduled (for completion in March),}
was extended (by two months) (due to supply chain disruptions).

S = The project
V = was extended
( ) = by two months / due to supply chain disruptions
{ } = initially scheduled for completion in March ← プロジェクトの補足情報
( ) = for completion in March ← { }の内部

→ { } を外すと「The project was extended by two months due to supply chain disruptions.」が残る。

文3｜ダッシュ同格

原文: The new policy — {a set (of revised guidelines) (for remote work)} —
was welcomed (by the majority of employees).

S = The new policy
V = was welcomed
( ) = by the majority of employees
{ } = a set of revised guidelines for remote work ← policyの内容を説明

→ ダッシュ（—）で挟まれた部分が { } になる。

文4｜the fact that 同格節

原文: Many investors remained optimistic (despite the fact {that quarterly revenue
had fallen (below projections) (for the second consecutive quarter)}).

S = Many investors
V = remained
C = optimistic
( ) = despite the fact + { } ← 全体として前置詞句
{ } = that quarterly revenue had fallen below projections for the second consecutive quarter
← factの内容（同格節）

→ the fact { } はセットで「四半期収益が予測を下回ったという事実」。

文5｜コンマ同格 + 前置詞句の組み合わせ

原文: The lead consultant, {a specialist (in supply chain management)
(with over twenty years of experience),} recommended implementing
the new inventory tracking system (across all facilities).

S = The lead consultant
V = recommended
O = implementing the new inventory tracking system
( ) = across all facilities
{ } = a specialist in supply chain management with over twenty years of experience
← consultantの同格（肩書き + 経歴）
( ) = in supply chain management / with over twenty years of experience ← { }の内部

→ { } を外すと主節が見える。

実戦問題

構造を分解しながら空所を埋めましょう。

Q1. The director of operations, ------- the entire logistics division reports to, presented the annual performance summary at the executive retreat.

(A) whom　(B) which　(C) whose　(D) where

Q2. The merger announcement — ------- the two companies had kept strictly confidential for several months — surprised most industry analysts.

(A) what　(B) which　(C) that　(D) whose

Q3. The fact ------- the company’s revenue had grown consecutively for five years reassured the shareholders.

(A) of which　(B) where　(C) that　(D) what

Q4. Ms. Rivera, ------- previous experience included managing three overseas offices, was appointed as the new regional director.

(A) that　(B) whom　(C) who　(D) whose

Q5. The board, {including the newly appointed members}, voted ------- the proposed acquisition.

(A) approved　(B) for approving　(C) to approve　(D) approval of

正解一覧